Casting apparatus.



C. D. PETTIS.

CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1913.

1 ,104,927. Patented July 28, 1914r f 2 SHEETSSHBET 1.

jyezzr C. D. PBTTIS.

CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1913.

1,104,927. Patented July 28,1914,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CLIFTON D. PETTIS, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CASTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 28 .1914.

Application led Hay 1, 1913. Serial No. 764,826.

To all w71 0m it may concern,

Be it known that I, CLIFTON D. PErrIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casting Apparatus, of which I do declare the followng to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specication.

The present invention, while susceptible of other uses, is particularly designed to provide a simple and effective means for the casting of brake shoes for railway cars.

The invention consists in the features of novelty hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is la plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a front elevation. Fig. 4 is a .perspective view of the pan-shaped reinforcing shell. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a section on the' line G--Gyof Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a crosssection illustrating a modification.

The present invention has certain features in common with an apparatus described and claimed in anv application filed by me of even date herewith, Serial No. 764,825, and I do not wish to be understood as claiming herein any features of invention claimed in said companion application.

The present invention is particularly adapted for casting brake shoes of the type in which the body of the shoe is reinforced by a pan-shaped shell or back of ductile metal. One form of such a shoe is shown in Patent No. 1,065,719, granted to me June 24, 1913, and, in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive of the drawings herewith, a shoe of this form i is shown. It is to be understood that the reinforcing back B1 of thicker metal. The shell 1s also provided with center and end lugs C and D which are formed of malleable or ductile metal and which are pro` vlded, respectively, with projections c and d which extend through the back of the shell B and through the reinforcement B1 and interlock with these parts to unite the lugs and the reinforcement B1 to the shell. It is to be understood that these details may be varied, but preferably the shell is provided with center and end lugs so that these arts will not have to be formed by cavities 6 1n the mold. The pan-shaped shell and reinforcement B1 are also provided withA pouring openings b and in the form shown in Figs. 4 and the end walls of the shell are provided with depending tongues b1.

The vlower or body portion of the improved apparatus, in the form shown, consists of a metal block or casting the upper, curved face of which is provided with a long recess or cavity 11 corresponding in 7 length and width to the body of the brake shoe and within which the ductile metal pan or shell B is placed for the casting operation. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the depending lugs b1 rest upon the bottom of the 8 cavity A11, so that the edges of the panshaped back which t snugly within the cavity are held above the lower surface thereof, and, when the shoe is formed, its face portion projects beyond the edges of 8 the shell.

In the form shown in Fig. 7, the end lugs b1 on the shell are dispensed with and the cavity 11 is provided with an inwardly projecting shoulder 34 between its lower sur- 9 face and the upper face of the body portion 10 upon which the edges of the shell rest. It is desirable, but not essential, that the shell should be thus supporte-d above the bottom of the cavity. 9

Above the body portion 10 of the apparatus are mounted the upper portions or sections 15 and 16 which are arranged to engage the upper part of the shell B and hold it securely in -position during the cast- 1 ing operation. For this purpose, these upper sections are provided with -recesses 17 of approximately the same width of the shell and within which recesses the upper portion of the shell extends when the sections 15 and 16 are in position above the lower section 10. The central portions of the upper sections 15 and 16 are provided with cutaway spaces 18 to clear the center lug C of the shell, and the end portions of the upper sections arealso cut away, as indicated at 181, to clear the end lugs D. The cutaway spaces at the center and ends of the upper sections are of such width as to expose a considerable portion of the back of the shell `at such points to the air, thereby avoiding the chilling of the cast metal ad- 'acent the attaching lugs of the shoe. Pourlng holes 19 are formed in the abutting faces of the sections 15 and 16 and which are adapted to aline with the holes b of the shell B.

At one end of the lower body portion is provided a pair of upright posts 20, the upper reduced portions of which pass through openings formed in the adjacentends of the upper sections and 16, so that the posts form pivots about which the ,sections 15 and 16 may be laterally swung.

The upper ends of the posts are provided with nuts 21 and a series of washers 22 interposed between the ends and the upper faces of the sections 15 and 16.

At' its opposite or front end, the lower -or body portion 10 of the apparatus is provided with a standard 25 which is connected thereto by bolts or studs 26. These bolts or studs extend through laterally projecting ears 28 in the lower portion of the standard 25 and are provided with nuts 27 and a series of washers 29 interposedl between the ends and the ears 28. At its upper end the standard 25 is provided with laterally projecting arms 30, preferably having slightly upturned ends, and the sections 15 and 16 are provided with forwardly projecting arms or end portions 32 which extend under the arms 30 and engage the lower faces thereof to thereby hold the upper sections 15 and 16 of the apparatus securely in position. The forwardly projecting arms 32 of the sections 15 and 16, as they are swung inwardly to the position shown in the drawings, abut against the vertical portions 31 of the standard 25. rlhe arms or end portions 32 are preferably provided with handles 33 for convenient nianipulation.

By reference more particularly to Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings, it will be seen that the sections 15 and 16 are arranged at a distance above, or spaced away from, the upper part of the lower portion or body 10 of the apparatus, and one object of the present invention is to provide a simple and effective means whereby adjustment of the upper portion or sections 15 and 16 of the apparatus with respect to the lower portion 16 may be edected in order to vary the thickness or vertical dimension of the brake shoe to be formed. It will be understood, of course, that when the pan-shaped shell B is in position within the cavity 11 of the lower or body portion 10 of the apparatus, the walls of the shell will serve to retain the molten metal and form, in effect, a part of the mold. That is to say, the mold is formed by the lower body portion 10 and the shell B, the upper sections 15 and 16 merely serving to securely hold the shell in position during the casting operation. vVhen the washers 22 at the rear end and the washers 29 at the front end of the apparatus are in the position shown, the sections 15 and 16 will rest upon the shoulders 20 of the posts 20, and these sections will then be in proper relative position with respect to the lower portion 10 to form a comparatively thin brake shoe. If, however, it is desired to form a thicker brake shoe, one or more of the washers 22 will be transferred from a position above the sections 15 and 16 to a position between such sections and the shoulders 20fL of the posts 20, and similarly, one or more of the washers 29 will be transferred from a position above the laterally projecting portions 28 of the upright 25 to a. position on the studs 26 between the laterally projecting portions 28 and the lower portion 10. This transposition of the washers serves to raise the sections 15 and 16 to a greater extent from the lower portion 10 of the apparatus, so that a brake shoe of greater thickness can be cast,-it being understood, of course, that in casting such thicker brake shoe, a wider shell or one having longer lugs or tongues lil-will be employed, so that the sections 15 and 16 will close sungly over the top of the shell.

In using lmy improved apparatus, the sections 15 and 16 will be swung outwardly and a shell B will be placed within the cavity 11 of the lower portion 10, after which the sections 15 and 16 will be swung to closed position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. lt will be understood, of course, that the end lugs and center lug will be attached to the shell before it is placed in the mold. When the shell is thus held between the lower portion 10 and the uppersections 15 and 16, the molten metal or other material from which the body of the shoe is formed will be poured through the holes 19 until the cavity 11 and the shell have been filled, and as the metal is thus poured into the shell, it unites with the shell, so that the latter affords a mostegective reinforcement or armor for the s oe.

While l have described what I regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the precise details thereof may be varied vit-hout departing from the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A casting apparatus comprising the combination of a lower portion provide with a mold cavity in its upper part and an upper portion formed of sections to coperate with said lower portion in holding a shell, said sections being pivotally connected to one end only of the lower portion and being arranged to swing laterally in a plane substantially parallel with the face of the lower section.

2. A casting apparatus comprising the combination of a lower portion and an upper portion formed of sections to coperate with said lower portion in holding a shell and means forpivotally connecting said sections to one and the same end ofthe lower ortion in manner permitting them to swing 1n a plane substantially parallel to that of the lower portion and means for holding said swinging sections, when in closed position, at a distance away from said lower portion.

3. A casting apparatus comprising the combination of a lower portion provided with a mold cavity in its upper part, and an upper portion formed of laterally swinging sections to coperate with said lower portion in holding a shell, said upper portion .being adjustable with respect to said lower portion.

4. A casting apparatus comprising the combination of a lower portion provided with a mold cavity in its upper part, uprights projecting from lsaid lower portion, laterally swinging sections pivotally mounted at one end upon said uprights and laterallyprojecting arms at the opposite end of said lower portion adapted to engage the front ends of said laterally swinging sections.

A casting apparatus comprising the combination of a lower portion provided with a mold cavity in its upper part, upriglits rising vertically from the opposite ends of said lower portion, an upper portion formed ot' laterally swinging sections pivoted to the uprights at one end of said lower portion, the upright at the opposite end of said lower portion being provided with laterally projecting arms for engagement with the front ends of said swinging sections.

6. A casting apparatus comprising the combination of a lower portion and an upper portion formed of sections arranged above said-lower portion, means fixed to one end of said lower portion whereon said sections are pivotally mounted to swing laterally, means extending vertically from the opposite end of said lower portion to engage the front ends of said swinging sections, and movable washers whereby the position of said sections with respect to the lower portion may be adjusted.

7. A casting apparatus comprising alower portion provided with a cavity in its upper part to receive the cast metal and an upper portion formed of laterally swinging sections to coperate with said lower portion in holding a shell, vertical posts rising from one end of said lower portion whereon said sections are pivoted, washers mounted upon said posts and whereby the adjustment of the swinging sections with respect to the lower portion may be eiit'ected and adjustable means rising from the opposite end of said lower portion for engagement with the corresponding ends of said swinging sections.

8. A casting apparatus comprising the combination of a lower portion provided with a cavity in its upper part to receive the cast metal, and an upper portion formed of laterally swinging sections to coperate with said lower portion in holding a shell, posts at one end of said lower portlon upon which said swinging sections are ivotally mounted, and a standard at the ront end of said lower portion provided with laterally projecting arms for engagement with the front ends of` said swinging sections.

9. A casting apparatus comprising the combination of a lower portion provided with a cavity in its upper part to receive the cast metal and an upper portion formed of laterally swinging sections to eoperate with said lower portion .in holding a shell, vertical posts at one end of said lower section upon which posts said sections are adjustably and pivotally mounted and an upright rising from the opposite end of said lower portion, said upright being provided with means for engaging the front ends of said swinging sections and means forvertically adjusting said upright.

10. A casting apparatusfor brake shoes, comprising the combination of a lower mold section, and an upper portion adapted to hold a shell wherein the bod of metal will be cast, said upper portion eing provided with parts extending across said shell bef tween' its center and ends and with pouring openings through said parts.

11. A casting apparatus for brake shoes, comprising the combination of a lower mold section and an upper portion adapted to hold the pan or shell wherein the body of metal will be cast in manner permitting the sides of said pan or shell to be exposed to the air and said upper portion having open spaces about its center and ends to expose the center and end portions of the back of said pan or shell to the air.

12. A casting apparatus for brake shoes comprising the combination of a lower mold section and an upper portion adapted to hold a pan or shell wherein the body of metal will be cast, said upper portion having open spaces about its ends to expose the end portions at the bach of said pan or shell the air, said upperportion having open to the air during the castinoperation. spaces about its ends to expose the end 5 13. A casting apparatus or brake shoes portions at the back of said pan or shell to comprising the comblnatlon of a lower mold the air during the casting operation.

f section and an upper yportion adapted to CLIFTON D. PETTIS.

hold a pan. or shell wherein the body of Witnesses: metal 4will be cast inmanner permitting the HARRY L. CLAPP, sides of said pan or shell lto be exposed to J. G. ANDERSON. 

